Switch



W. J. NEWTON SWITCH Filed March 2. 1922 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 16, 1923.

1 Iran STATES PATENT errics.

WILLIAM J. nnw'romor BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR 'ro HARVEY HUBBELL,

mcoarona'ran, or snrnearom', connacrrcur, a coaroaarmzr or common,-

- in closed our.

SWITCH.

Application fil'ed March 2, 1922. Serial No. 540,395.,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, WILLIAMJ; Nnw'mn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, countyof Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Switches,- of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to operating mechanism for electrical switches, steam and water valves, and the like, and particularly to so-called snap 'action mechanisms, and.

and closing movements, to the member to be,

operated, with independent positively acting means for imparting the initial movements to the said member so that the contacting elements will not freeze or stick and the switch, valve, or device to be shifted, will alwa s be operated. With tliese and-other objects in view, I have devised the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional-elevation through an electric switch mechanism embodying'my invention, showing the switch osition.

Fig. 2 1s a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 1, but s owing the positions of the elements as the; ositlvely acting means begins to act upon tl ie contact member.

Fig. 3 is a transverse,sectional elevation at one side of the switch mechanism and looking from the right of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the switch'ln closed osition, a portion ofthe insulating base belng broken away to more clearly show the construction, and 1 Fig. 5 is a side view of the toggle arm.

For the purpose of illustrating my inven tion, I have shown and will describe it as applied to an electric switch, but it is by no means limited to such use as it may, with equally advantageous results, be employed in operating a steam or water valve, and so forth. The principle of my invention is adapted for use in various types of switch and valve, or the like, mechanisms and, therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the employment thereof with the specific mechanism disclosed. F or the purpose of illus-' trating the invention, I have shown it as applied to the type of switch, disclosed in my prior Patent, No. 1,316,553,- issued July In the device. illustrated, the switch mech-. anism is mounted upon theinsulating base 10. The fixed contacts 11 are formed upon the'eontact carriers 12which are secured to the base 10 by suitable screws 13,.and carry the bindingscrews 14 whereby the lead wires may be connected thereto. Between the contacts,is mounted a support or frame 15 secured to the base by any suitable means,

such as screws 16, and in which are mounted the movable switch elements' This support 'or frame is substantially U-shaped in cross section, includin upstanding legs or side members 17 having outwardly turned feet 18 to receive the securing screws 16. The upper ends of these legs or side members are connected by the dome 19 in which is pivotally mounted the operating member 20, the pivot being indicated at 21, and the memher having a suitable handle 22 to facilitate I the manual operation thereof. Any other suitable operating mechanism may be employed, such as push buttons, or the like. The 7 lower end of this member is forked, as shown at 23, in which is mounted a transverse pin 24in operate the toggle mechanism. Lugs 25. are struck inwardly from the upper portion of the side members 17 to form ivots for the actuating member 26 which, in the form shown, is substantially U-shaped, and

is inverted and located between the side members 17. The connecting portion 27 is provided with an opening 28 therein through which extends the lower end of the togglearm 29, this arm being adapted to have a sliding and rocking movement in said open against the portion 27 of the actuating mem- I ber 26. g

Pivoted on the outside of the side members 17, at a point 33, is a yoke 34, the

side sections of which are connected by spaced cross pieces 35, and secured to this yoke and electrically insulated therefrom,

is a swingin contact member 36 carrying the electrical y movable contact elements 37 adapted to engage the fixed contacts 11. It

will be evident that swinging of the yoke 34' on its pivots will swing the contacts 27 to and I toggle mechanism for swinging the yoke 34 and the contact member 36 on its pivots,

the actuating member 26 being located between the cross pieces 35 and these pieces be- :ing spaced apart a sufiicient distance to allow the actuating member to have a certain amount of swingingmovement relative thereto. Starting, for example, with the parts in the position shown in F ig. 1, swing- "ing of the handle 22 of the operating member 20 to the right, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 2, will compress the spring 31 until the pin 24 is on a line joining the pivot 21 and the center of the opening 28. "As the pin 24 passes beyond this line, the spring expands moving the lower end of the actuating member to the right, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, bringing the edges of the actuating member 26 in contact with the right hand or lower cross piece j 35, giving it a blow I which will swing the yoke and contact memher on its pivot and separate the contacts 3'? from'the contacts 11. .Downwardly pro jecting stops 39 arealso provided on opposite sides of the dome 19 to engage the sides of the fork 23 to limit the movements of the distance and are also so locate operating member 20.

Carried by the toggle arm 29, adjacent the upper end thereof, are two oppositely extending, projecting elements 40, which elements are extended downwardl a suficient sidewise' of the arm, that when the operating member 20 is swung on its pivot to move the toggle through its neutral position, preferably just before the toggle reaches this neutral position, the lower end of one of these projections will contact with, the corresponding cross piece 35, as shown at 41 in Fig. 2, so that, as the toggle moves through its neutral position, this projecting member will press against the cross piece to positively swing the yoke carrying the contact member 36 to move the contacts 37 relatively to the fixed contacts 11, and to impart initial movements thereto. The result of this is that, as the action of the spring takes sheet on the yoke, and through it the contact member, valve, or whatever. element is to be shifted, the

enses movable contacts or element are already in motion. It will be clear from this that the action of the spring controlled toggle mech anism is not relied upon to start the movablecontacts or element from the stationary contacts, but there is means for positively startin this movement so that there is no possibi ity of the contacting elements free z ing as is sometimes the case when the spring is'relied on to break the contact, the result being thati-the switch, or valve, or similar element, isalways o erated as' intended.

Having thus set orth the nature of my invention, what I claim is! 1 In a switch, a swinging contact mem-' her, a swinging actuating member, an operating member, a toggle arm connected to the actuating member and the operating member, said actuating memberand arm comprising a toggle, a spring between the toggle arm and actuating member, cooperating engaging parts on the contact and actuating members, said spring acting to swing the actuating and contact members after the toggle has been moved through its neutral position, and means operated by the operating means for positively shifting the contact member as the toggle passes through its neutral position.

2. In a switch, a swinging contact member, a swinging actuating member, an op erating member, an operative connection between the operatin I member and the actuating member in'clu ing a spring controlled toggle, and means carried by the toggle for positively shifting the contact member as the togglepasses through its neutral position.

3. In a switch, a support, a contact member comprising side pieces pivoted to the support and spiced apart cross pieces, an actuating mem the support and located between the cross pieces and adapted to engage the same'to actuate-the contactmember, an operating member, a toggle arm pivoted to the operating member and having sliding engagement with the actuating member, a compression spring carried by the toggle arm and hearing against the actuating member, and means carried by the toggle arm for positively swinging the contact member as the toggle passes through itsneutral position. 4. In a switch, a swinging contact memr independently pivoted to her, a swinging actuating'member, a spring said members, and means carried by the toggle mechanism to positively move said contact member as the toggle mechanism passes through its neutral position.

In testimony whereof I atiixmy signature.

WILLIAM J. NEWTON. 

